any panties, making her warm center easily accessible. Her body jerks as my fingers slide through her wet folds, rubbing against my throbbing erection.
“You’re so fucking wet.” My thumb works her clit while I slip a finger inside of her. She scrapes her nails down my back, her moan full of desperation. “Stop trying to hide from me. Your body can’t keep your secrets.”
“I hate you.”
Anger radiates through me at the pained sincerity in her words. She doesn’t get to be sad that we’re broken. This is her fault. She stole her love from me, so I took her hate. Hatred consumes us just like love had. They’re opposite sides of the same coin.
I add another finger, relishing in how tight she feels. “Finally, a little honesty. I can assure you the feeling is mutual, Princess.”
The venom in my tone causes her eyes to pop open and lock onto mine, but she doesn’t try to stop me. She’s too far gone, like putty in my hands. “Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?”
“Stop denying what your body has already confirmed. I want to hear you say the words. Tell me who you belong to.”
I smirk at the shock on her angelic face.
“Cole, please…”
“As much as I love hearing you beg, it won’t do you any good.” She’s so soaked now a third finger goes in with ease. I work her with a faster rhythm, barely keeping my composure when she bites into her bottom lip. “Say it.”
“Oh god, I’m yours,” she pants as the pressure of her orgasm builds.
“That’s right. Mine. For keeps, Princess. Now, let go.”
I seal my mouth to hers, and she begins rocking her hips to match my tempo. She clenches and pulsates around me, her fingernails clawing at my back. It’s almost enough to make me come in my damn sweats.
Her movements become jerky and I still my hand, allowing her to take control and ride that final wave. I nip at her bottom lip before leaning back to watch as her release crashes to the surface.
With her eyes screwed shut and her brow knit above them, the flush on her skin gets brighter as her cries grow louder. Then my name passes through her parted lips in a moan. The sight is even better than I remember.
Gently removing my hand from her shorts, I adjust her tank top and pull her limp body into my arms. She buries her head into my chest, breathing me in. I kiss the top of her head, the instinctual move catching me by surprise and making me dizzy.
It’s like we’ve stepped into a time paradox, two versions of us existing in the same space. I both love and hate her in this moment. The girl who won my heart and the one who broke it.
Chapter Eleven
Present
GWEN
My loose limbs stiffen as soon as the euphoric haze begins to clear, the room suddenly feeling unbearably cold even with Cole’s arms wrapped around me. I’ve been dreaming about the day he would hold me again, but this is all wrong.
Tainted.
This wasn’t an act of love or passion for him. It was about possession. He wanted to prove he still holds power over me.
It’s sick.
Twisted.
The most horrifying part is I think a part of me liked it. Knowing that he’s still unwilling to let me go, despite his hatred. But he doesn’t want me. He just doesn’t want anyone else to have me.
“For keeps, Princess.”
Little girls shouldn’t make promises they don’t understand. My vow of forever was made to the boy I loved. Not the monster who delights in torturing me. Unfortunately, they are one and the same.
I straighten my back and step out of his embrace, my gaze avoiding his. Tears prick my eyes when I try to speak, the lump in my throat choking the words back down. The seconds we stand in silence feel more like hours, the heat of his stare causing a nauseating unease in my gut.
Cole clears his throat, patting me on the head like a dog. “Now that we’ve got that settled, it’s time for you to go. I’ve got an early shift tomorrow.”
I force myself to meet his glower, my tears now falling freely as he smirks. “When did you become so cruel?”
His lips twist into a snarl, his hands cupping my face. He leans down, licking the tears from my cheek before damn near growling in my ear. “Around the time you ripped my fucking heart from my chest.”
His words